Daniel (@dungeondive) runs a five-category small-box showdown comparing Tin Helm (Jason Glover), Adventure of D (Jack Darwin), Deck Box Dungeons, and Tower of the Ice Lich, ranking each across visual appeal, luck-vs-skill, big-box feel, replay value, and X-factor.
The rankings, briefly. Visual appeal: Tin Helm > Adventure of D > Tower of the Ice Lich > Deck Box Dungeons (Glover’s line work wins). Luck vs skill: Adventure of D is the most skill-driven (a multi-use-card system with no dice for combat); Tower of the Ice Lich is almost pure random encounters. Big-box feel: Adventure of D scratches the Talisman/Runebound itch best; Tower of the Ice Lich feels deliberately small. Replay: Tin Helm tops the list — highest skill ceiling, rewards repeat play more than the others. X-factor (personal favourite): Tin Helm, then Adventure of D, then Tower of the Ice Lich, with Deck Box Dungeons fourth.
The Adventure of D segment doubles as an open plea: Jack Darwin should put his games on The Game Crafter or DriveThruCards. The print-on-demand-via-DIY scarcity is keeping a genuinely fantastic overland adventure deck out of hands that want it.
Five axes is more than most micro-game reviews use. Which dimension would you weight hardest when choosing between four broadly similar small boxes?